There is something to be said about a Chinese menu that does not include pork, and that something would be lamb. As a lamb aficionado, I was more than delighted to try Old Mandarin Islamic Restaurant and it did not disappoint in the flavor department on several of the items we tried, but the restaurant itself is very small and not only dated and worn, but kitchy in an odd and distracting fashion. Did I really need Mickey Mouse peering over my shoulder during the dining experience, or his endorsement of this restaurant?
The Peking Beef Pancakes were a very pleasant way to start this culinary journey and they are memorable. Very flaky pancakes swaddle the spicy beef filling and these surpass in flavor similar meat filled offerings from Indian restaurants using lamb. These would be easy to order again and again.
No pork in the pot stickers but they were nicely cooked. Although they could have used a stronger flavor, the lamb was a nice substitute. I also wished the condiment selection was a bit broader. I think Old Mandarin's pot stickers could easily be improved, but since I do not know how to cook Chinese dishes, I'm not the one to make suggestions (like more use of garlic and ginger).
It's not easy to order a meal in any Chinese restaurant without including fried rice and Old Mandarin would have made that impossible, since they offered their version of fried rice with lamb as well as others with chicken, beef and seafood. To round out the meal we decided on the sauteed Lamb with Green Onions, a house specialty.
The rice was light and fluffy and as fried rice goes, a very good one with the richness added to it by the lamb and the requisite eggs, green onions, peas and carrots. The sauteed lamb was good, but not memorable as far as enhanced or complex flavor goes. It was lamb, pure and simple, but that in itself can be good. Still I'd come back to try a few other items on the menu that looked quite unique and more complex than what we ordered for this particular meal; for instance, one of the Hot Pots.
San Francisco, CA 94116
(415) 564-3481Mon, Wed, Fri-Sun 11:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Tue, Thu 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m
Tue, Thu 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m
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